CVE-2002-0346 in Cobalt Raq
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting vulnerability in Cobalt RAQ 4 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary script as other Cobalt users via Javascript in a URL to (1) service.cgi or (2) alert.cgi.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/19/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-0346 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw that existed in the Cobalt RAQ 4 web application server platform. This issue specifically affects the service.cgi and alert.cgi components of the system, creating a pathway for remote attackers to inject malicious javascript code into web requests. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within these cgi scripts, which fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamic web content. The Cobalt RAQ 4 platform was widely used for web hosting and application deployment during the early 2000s, making this vulnerability particularly significant given the number of systems potentially affected.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing javascript code and directs a victim user to access the compromised service.cgi or alert.cgi endpoints. When the vulnerable application processes this request and displays the malicious content without proper sanitization, the embedded javascript executes within the victim's browser context. This creates a persistent threat where the attacker's code runs with the privileges and permissions of the authenticated user, potentially enabling session hijacking, data theft, or further exploitation of the compromised system. The vulnerability specifically maps to CWE-79 which defines Cross-Site Scripting as a weakness where untrusted data is incorporated into web page content without proper validation or encoding, making it one of the most prevalent web application security flaws.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it fundamentally undermines the security model of the Cobalt RAQ 4 platform. An attacker could leverage this weakness to steal session cookies, modify user permissions, access sensitive administrative functions, or redirect users to malicious sites. The vulnerability affects not only the immediate web application but also potentially compromises the broader system security posture since the injected scripts could access other resources within the user's browser context. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 which focuses on establishing persistence through web shell creation or script injection methods, and represents a classic example of how insufficient input validation can create persistent security risks in web applications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms across all cgi scripts within the Cobalt RAQ 4 platform. Organizations should implement comprehensive sanitization of all user-supplied input before processing or displaying it in web responses, utilize proper HTML encoding for dynamic content, and implement content security policies to prevent unauthorized script execution. The fix should involve modifying the service.cgi and alert.cgi scripts to validate and escape all input parameters, ensuring that any javascript code embedded in URLs is neutralized before being processed. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls, regular security audits, and input validation frameworks to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components of the platform. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of defense-in-depth strategies and the necessity of validating all user inputs at multiple layers of application architecture to prevent exploitation of cross-site scripting vulnerabilities that can compromise entire user sessions and system integrity.